Dishwasher

ABSTRACT

A dishwasher comprising a tub, a movable panel such as a door providing access to the interior of the tub and having a front surface facing the tub interior, a silverware basket having side walls, a water pervious front wall on the side adjacent the tub interior, a water pervious bottom wall and a water pervious back wall, and fasteners for releasably mounting the basket on the front surface so that the loaded basket may be easily attached, and at the conclusion of the dishwashing operation the basket and the silverware contained therein may be removed from the dishwasher.

United States Patent Lampman et a1.

1 51 May 30, 1972 [54] DISHWASHER [72] Inventors: William T. Lampman, St. Joseph; Charles H. Wade, Benton Harbor, both of Mich.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,449,000 3/ 1923 Hicks 134/200 2,032,156 2/1936 Stoddard... .....21 1/181 X 2,712,826 7/1955 Schleyer et a1... ..220/19 X 2,824,567 2/1958 Karlstrom 134/200 X 3,025,864 3/1962 Ensign ...220/19 X 3,162,497 12/1964 Boswinkle et a1 ..312/248 3,182,854 5/1965 Geller ..211/41 X 3,288,155 11/1966 Swetnam.. .211/41 X 3,294,273 12/ 1 966 Ettlinger.. .....220/83 3,348,723 10/1967 Wilson ..220/19 X 3,421,525 1/1969 Nord.... ..134/200 X 3,064,661 1l/1962 Jacobs ..134/58 Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi Attorney-James S. Nettleton, Thomas E. Turcotte, Gene A.

, Heth, Burton H. Baker, Donald W. Thomas, Frank C. Harter and Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [5 7] ABSTRACT A dishwasher comprising a tub, a movable panel such as a door providing access to the interior of the tub and having a front surface facing the tub interior, a silverware basket having side walls, a water pervious front wall on the side adjacent the tub interior, a water pervious bottom wall and a water pervious back wall, and fasteners for releasably mounting the basket on the front surface so that the loaded basket may be easily attached, and at the conclusion of the dishwashing operation the basket and the silverware contained therein may be removed from the dishwasher.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 4 Sheets-$heet 2 Patented May 30, 1972 3,6fi5,943

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 & H EKI n\rL n n '1 II II IFfII IIJI'TI IL LII II II II II II II II LI IIHII IIHII 1| II IF;I/

III II II II n u w I'IIII u u 1| 1| II I LJIJLJI IL II IL IL I RI DISHWASHER One of the features of this invention is to provide a dishwasher having an improved removable silverware basket that is water pervious so that the silverware contained therein can be easily contacted by washing liquid during the washing operation, that is, firmly fastened in position during the dishwashing but that can be removed with the silverware contained therein from the dishwasher at the conclusion of the washing operation.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher embodying the invention with the front door in open position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the silverware basket of the dishwasher with the hingedly mounted front wall in closed position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the front wall in downwardly open position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the basket partially in section and partially broken away for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the basket with the hinged front wall in forward lowered position.

FIG. 8 is a detail fragmentary perspective view illustrating the catch for retaining the hinged front wall in closed position.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 9--9 of FIG. 3.

The dishwasher illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a customary enclosing cabinet 10 having a movable panel 1 1 in the form of a front door normally closing an access opening 12 but capable of being lowered to open position as shown in FIG. 1 about side hinges 13.

The interior of the cabinet 10 is provided with the customary spaced dish retaining racks 14 and a bottom rotatable spray arm 15 serving as a source of projected washing liquid for washing the dishes in the customary manner.

The panel 11 has a front surface 16 facing the interior 17 of the dishwasher tub 18 in which the racks l4 and spray arm 15 are located. The front surface 16 of the panel 11 is recessed as illustrated by the recess 19 in FIG. 4 and this recess contains a dishwasher basket 20 releasably mounted therein.

The basket 20 is provided with side or end walls 21, a water pervious front wall 22, a water pervious bottom wall 23 and a water pervious back wall 24. The back wall 24 is provided with a plurality of raised spacer means here embodied in spaced vertical ribs 25 of which six are used in this embodiment for holding the back of the basket away from the front surface 16 of the panel to facilitate drainage of washing liquid at the back of the basket. The openwork front, bottom and back also aids rapid and complete drying of the contained silverware.

In the illustrated embodiment the side walls 21, bottom wall 23, back wall 24 and spaced ribs 25 are all integral and made from a molded rigid but flexible plastic. These walls each comprise a lattice of integral crossed sets of spaced strips, some of which are arranged generally horizontally. Thus in the bottom wall the horizontal strips 26 cross at right angles to the other set of strips 27. In this embodiment the set of cross strips 27 are inclined forwardly and downwardly as illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5. The horizontal strips 26 have tapered sharp lower edges 28 facing the source of projected washing liquid or rotatable spray arm 15 to facilitate entry of this liquid through the openings between the crossed strips.

The back wall 24 of the basket is provided with a plurality, here shown as three, of horizontally aligned vertically extending keyhole type openings 29 that are narrower at the top 30. These openings are designed to receive plastic flanged buttons 31 that are mounted on the front surface recess 19 so as to releasably retain the basket within the recess during the dishwashing operation. The locating of the basket in a recess 19 provides more space in the racks 14.

The front wall 22 is hingedly attached at its lower edge 32 to the forward edge 33 of the bottom wall 23 so that the front wall may be opened forwardly and downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3 to facilitate loading the basket with silverware before mounting it in the panel 1 l in the manner just described. In a similar manner, the basket may be loaded with the front wall 22 in an opened position with the basket mounted on panel 11. The hinge structure comprises a plurality of pins 34 that are spaced from each other and that are aligned generally parallel to the bottom wall forward edge 33 as shown most clearly in FIG. 7. At the intersection of pins 34 and edge 33 fillets as at 65 may be provided to strengthen the hinge structure. The hinge structure also comprises loop portions 35 on the lower edge 32 of the front wall 22 each of which receives a hinge portion of a pin 34 so as to provide the hinging action. One of the end loop portions 35 is engaged by a horizontal pin 36 that extends toward the other pins 34 to complete the hinge structure. This pin 36 has a supplemental pin 37 adjacent to it and extending toward it but spaced to provide a gap as shown in FIG. 7 so that this end loop portion 35 may be snapped between the pins 36 and 37 in attaching or removing the front wall 22.

The hinged front wall 22 like the other walls comprises a flexible plastic member having a top edge 38 that is opposite the hinge structure. This top edge being normally flexible is provided with an enclosing reinforcing strip 39 which may be of thin sheet metal. The reinforcing strip 39 serves two purposes in that it reinforces the flexible top edge from end-toend so that the weight of the contained silverware cannot distort the front wall enough to permit escape of pieces of silverware and also provides a decorative appearance to the basket.

The front wall 22 is provided with raised side ribs 40 and 60 and a bottom rib 41 that extend toward the back wall 24 when the front wall is in closed position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-6. As shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9, ribs 40 and 41 are located adjacent and inwardly of the side walls 21 and the bottom wall 23 and are used not only to reinforce the basket at the areas of the walls but also to inhibit thin bladed knives and the like extending from the basket in the space between the front wall 22 and the side walls 21 and bottom wall 23. Rib 60 is located adjacent and outwardly of the side walls 21 to give additional dimensional stability between the front wall 22 and the side walls 21.

The bottom wall 23 slopes forwardly and downwardly toward the tub interior when the door 11 is closed as illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5. The bottom wall is provided with spaced ribs 42 each having a flat generally horizontal upper surface 43 with these surfaces being substantially coplanar. The ribs 42 are primarily used to keep the silverware in the basket separated from each other for more efficient washing. Each rib 42 has a notched stepped forward end 44 (FIG. 5) to provide room for the bottom rib 41 when the front wall 22 is in closed position.

The back wall 24 of the basket extends above the front wall 22 when this front wall is closed and is provided with a plurality of vertical partitions 45 and 46 that extend from the closed front wall 22 to the rear wall 24 to divide the basket into sideby-side separated compartments. The partition 46 is located centrally of the basket and is provided adjacent its upper end with a large opening 47 so that it also serves as a handle for transporting the basket and its contents. The vertical partitions 45 and 46 are provided with rear edge openings 48 and 49 so as to permit liquid to pass from one compartment to another through the partitions. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 these openings 48 and 49 are elongated in a generally horizontal direction so as to facilitate the passage of this liquid.

The front wall 22 is provided with the above-described lattice of integral plastic strips some of which 50 are arranged horizontally and some of which 61 are arranged vertically. These strips 50 are also provided with sharp forward edges 51 that are also facing the source 15 of projected liquid to facilitate entry of this liquid through the front wall 22 and onto the contained silverware.

In order to retain the front wall 22 in closed position there is provided a spring catch 52. As disclosed most clearly in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8, this spring catch comprises a wire 53 having ends 54 retained in bosses 55 on the rear top of the front wall 22 and a central section 56 above the metal reinforcing strip 29. The ends 54 held in the bosses 55 are on end shelves 57 that are integral with the bosses so that the wire is held against clockwise movement as viewed in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8. This serves to retain the wire in catch notches 58 in the two partitions 45 on opposite sides of and nearest to the central partition 46. This structure provides a spring catch to hold the front wall 22 closed as shown most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, yet permits releasing the catch by distorting the spring 52 upwardly from its position in FIGS. 4 and 5. This can easily be done by grasping the central handle portion 59 of the spring catch.

Thus the invention is discussed above comprehends an improved silverware basket structure for use in a dishwasher having a washing space provided with a forwardly opening access opening 12 and a door 11 removably closing the access opening. The silverware basket 20 is arranged to be carried on the door to be exposed to the washing space when the door is in the closed position across the access opening. The invention comprehends providing such a basket having a water-pervious wall means including a back wall 24 and peripheral walls 21 and 23 projecting from the back wall and defining therewith a three-sided receptacle as shown in FIG. 3 having a front opening which opens laterally toward the upper end of the receptacle as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, in the arrangement of FIG. 3 the basket is arranged to receive silverware brought flatwise downwardly through the front opening with the basket turned with the back 24 lowermost and thus with the front opening uppermost. The water-pervious front wall 22 is selectively disposable across the front opening as shown in FIG. 2 subsequent to the reception of the silverware in the receptacle. Thus, when the door 11 is swung upwardly to the closed position across the access opening, the basket defines an upwardly opening receptacle with the previously designated side opening now uppermost to define the four-sided upwardly opening receptacle arrangement shown in FIG. 2 which is then exposed to the washing space for washing the silverware in the basket. In this arrangement the peripheral wall 23 defines the bottom of the upwardly opening receptacle.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. In a dishwasher having means defining a washing space provided with a forwardly opening access opening and a door removably closing said access opening, a silverware basket arranged to be carried on said door to be exposed to said washing space when the door is in closed position across said access opening, said basket comprising: water-pervious wall means including a back wall and peripheral walls projecting from said back wall and defining therewith a three-sided receptacle having a front opening which opens forwardly and a side opening which opens laterally, arranged to receive silverware brought flatwise downwardly through said front opening with said front opening uppermost; a water-pervious front wall selectively disposable across said front opening subsequent to the reception of said silverware in said receptacle; and means for mounting said basket on said door to be disposed in an upright position when said door is disposed to close said access opening with said side opening uppermost to define a four-sided upwardly opening receptacle exposed to said washing space and with one of said peripheral walls defining the bottom of said upwardly opening receptacle.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein said back wall is provided with a plurality of raised ribs integral with said basket comprising spacer means for holding the basket back wall generally away from said door to facilitate drainage of washing liquid.

3. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein said front wall has a bottom and a top, and there are provided a hinge structure connecting the bottom of said front wall to said receptacle for pivotal movement of said front wall and a reinforcing metal stri4p along the top of said front wall.

. In a dishwasher having means defining a washing space provided with a forwardly opening access opening and a door removably closing said access opening, a silverware basket arranged to be carried on said door to be exposed to said washing space when the door is in closed position across said access opening, said basket comprising: water-pervious wall means including a back wall and peripheral walls projecting from said back wall and defining therewith a three-sided receptacle having a front opening which opens forwardly and side opening which opens laterally, arranged to receive silverware brought flatwise downwardly through said front opening with said front opening uppermost; a water-pervious front wall selectively disposable across said front opening subsequent to the reception of said silverware in said receptacle; and means for mounting said basket on said door to be disposed in an upright position with said side opening uppermost, when said door is disposed to close said access opening, to define a four-sided upwardly opening receptacle exposed to said washing space, said front wall being provided with ribs extending toward said back wall when the front wall is closed across said front opening, said ribs being located adjacent the periphery of said front wall to prevent the protruding of thin portions of said silverware from the basket around the edges of said front wall.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 wherein said front wall carries a catch means for retaining said front wall releasably in closed position.

6. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein said font wall comprises a flexible plastic member having a top edge opposite said hinge structure, and said hinge structure comprises a plurality of pins on said receptacle spaced from each other and having hinge portions aligned and generally parallel to said back wall, and loop portions receiving said hinge portions.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein said peripheral wall defining said receptacle bottom slopes forwardly and downwardly toward said tub interior when said door is closed, and is provided with spaced ribs having coplanar top edges.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein said basket back wall extends above said front wall, when said door is disposed to close said access opening, and is provided with a plurality of vertical partitions dividing the basket into a plurality of vertical compartments, each said partition having means defining a plurality of openings therein adjacent said back wall for the passage of liquid between said compartments, one of said partitions extending above said front wall and being provided with handle means above said front wall.

9. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein said walls each comprises a lattice of integral crossed sets of spaced strips some of which are arranged generally horizontally, and said dishwasher is provided with a source of projected washing liquid and horizontal strips of the front and peripheral walls have tapered sharp edges facing said source to facilitate entry of said liquid between said strips.

10. A dishwasher, comprising: a tub; a normally closed movable panel providing access to the interior of said tub and having a front surface facing said tub interior; a silverware basket having side walls defining a space for receiving silverware to be washed, a water-pervious front wall, means mounting said front wall on said basket to pivot downwardly and away from said panel to provide access to said basket through one entire side of said space, a water-pervious bottom wall and a water-pervious back wall, said back wall having a plurality of raised ribs integral with said basket comprising spacer means for holding the basket generally away from said front surface to facilitate drainage of washing liquid, said ribs extending rearwardly of said basket; and means for releasably mounting said basket on said panel front surface. 

1. In a dishwasher having means defining a washing space provided with a forwardly opening access opening and a door removably closing said access opening, a silverware basket arranged to be carried on said door to be exposed to said washing space when the door is in closed position across said access opening, said basket comprising: water-pervious wall means including a back wall and peripheral walls projecting from said back wall and defining therewith a three-sided receptacle having a front opening which opens forwardly and a side opening which opens laterally, arranged to receive silverware brought flatwise downwardly through said front opening with said front opening uppermost; a water-pervious front wall selectively disposable across said front opening subsequent to the reception of said silverware in said receptacle; and means for mounting said basket on said door to be disposed in an upright position when said door is disposed to close said access opening with said side opening uppermost to define a four-sided upwardly opening receptacle exposed to said washing space and with one of said peripheral walls defining the bottom of said upwardly opening receptacle.
 2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein said back wall is provided with a plurality of raised ribs integral with said basket comprising spacer means for holding the basket back wall generally away from said door to facilitate drainage of washing liquid.
 3. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein said front wall has a bottom and a top, and there are provided a hinge structure connecting the bottom of said front wall to said receptacle for pivotal movement of said front wall and a reinforcing metal strip along the top of said front wall.
 4. In a dishwasher having means defining a washing space provided with a forwardly opening access opening and a door removably closing said access opening, a silverware basket arranged to be carried on said door to be exposed to said washing space when the door is in closed position across said access opening, said basket comprising: water-pervious wall means including a back wall and peripheral walls projecting from said back wall and defining therewith a three-sided receptacle having a front opening which opens forwardly and side opening which opens laterally, arranged to receive silverware brought flatwise downwardly through said front opening with said front opening uppermost; a water-pervious front wall selectively disposable across said front opening subsequent to the reception of said silverware in said receptacle; and means for mounting said basket on said door to be disposed in an upright position with said side opening uppermost, when said door is disposed to close said access opening, to define a four-sided upwardly opening receptacle exposed to said washing space, said front wall being provided with ribs extending toward said back wall when the front wall is closed across said front opening, said ribs being located adjacent the periphery of said front wall to prevent the protruding of thin portions of said silverware from the basket around the edges of said front wall.
 5. The dishwasher of claim 4 wherein said fronT wall carries a catch means for retaining said front wall releasably in closed position.
 6. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein said font wall comprises a flexible plastic member having a top edge opposite said hinge structure, and said hinge structure comprises a plurality of pins on said receptacle spaced from each other and having hinge portions aligned and generally parallel to said back wall, and loop portions receiving said hinge portions.
 7. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein said peripheral wall defining said receptacle bottom slopes forwardly and downwardly toward said tub interior when said door is closed, and is provided with spaced ribs having coplanar top edges.
 8. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein said basket back wall extends above said front wall, when said door is disposed to close said access opening, and is provided with a plurality of vertical partitions dividing the basket into a plurality of vertical compartments, each said partition having means defining a plurality of openings therein adjacent said back wall for the passage of liquid between said compartments, one of said partitions extending above said front wall and being provided with handle means above said front wall.
 9. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein said walls each comprises a lattice of integral crossed sets of spaced strips some of which are arranged generally horizontally, and said dishwasher is provided with a source of projected washing liquid and horizontal strips of the front and peripheral walls have tapered sharp edges facing said source to facilitate entry of said liquid between said strips.
 10. A dishwasher, comprising: a tub; a normally closed movable panel providing access to the interior of said tub and having a front surface facing said tub interior; a silverware basket having side walls defining a space for receiving silverware to be washed, a water-pervious front wall, means mounting said front wall on said basket to pivot downwardly and away from said panel to provide access to said basket through one entire side of said space, a water-pervious bottom wall and a water-pervious back wall, said back wall having a plurality of raised ribs integral with said basket comprising spacer means for holding the basket generally away from said front surface to facilitate drainage of washing liquid, said ribs extending rearwardly of said basket; and means for releasably mounting said basket on said panel front surface. 